VOMIT-GIVING 2011

So before you judge and think how terrible it is for me me to write about this, yada, yada, yada... know that this is a scrapbook for my kids, and what we did for the majority of our Thanksgiving break was vomit.  If you have a weak stomach, better skip this post!

So just before the break Cole came down with the dreaded stomach bug.  He got sick at the sitters house, he came home and spent the next two days recovering and was fine.  I thought to myself this is the end of it, how lucky we were and was looking forward to our trip to the beach to visit Mimi and Papa.  Craig would be there too and Cousin Julie... it was going to be a much needed week of relaxation and good family time.  Ha...  Guess I didn't knock on wood enough!  

It all started with us looking like this...

We look excited right?  Happy right?  Relaxed right?  Yes, all true until Cole threw up ALL over me, Grady and Richard about halfway through our flight.  Yes, we were the people ringing the flight attendant button asking for more bags, paper towels, etc.  We landed in Florida and I was so glad to be off that plane!  (turns out he wasn't still sick, he gets plane-sick each time we fly -- joy!)  Dad picked us up and we headed home praying that this was the end of it and that tomorrow we could start our week of relaxation and fun.  Again, (insert sigh) w.r.o.n.g!      

I'm going to spare you give you all the details so you feel sorry for me so here goes a recap... 

-Friday - VOMIT - Cole on plane
-Saturday - VOMIT - Grady gets sick multiple times and projectile vomits all over Mimi's leather couches.  Richard and I stay up with him so that every hour we can attempt a trash can vomit catch.  I ended up telling him that I would pay him a dollar for every time he made it in the can - he earned 4 bucks!  Three hours of sleep that night... (insert sigh and a "this can't get worse" comment...)
-Sunday - VOMIT - I get sick in the middle of the night (both ends)
-Monday - rest day, little beach going for the "healthy"

-Tuesday - BUSCH GARDENS!!! Wahoo, everybody is healthy.  We have kicked this bug and are going to make the best of the rest of our trip (Ha, ha, ha...)!

 Up close and personal...

 Richard and Mimi getting sprayed!

 A soaked Grady!

 Best . picture. ever...

Cole was ZONKED!

Baby zebras... ahhh!

 This cheetah and dog had been raised together - such a cool story! 

Busch Gardens was sooooo fun!  We had a perfect day (although as long as nobody threw up it would have been perfect)  The weather was beautiful, there were hardly any people and lines, and they had just put up all of their Christmas decorations so it was very festive!  It is the perfect mix of the best zoo ever (next to San Diego) and an amusement park filled with roller coasters, etc.  It has something for everyone!  Also, notice the cool topiaries all shaped like animals.  It is (and always has been) my favorite park to visit!!!  


-Wednesday - VOMIT x3 - Mimi, Richard and Uncle Craig ALL get sick.  Richard and Uncle Craig are at the golf course with Papa when it hits and they all have to finish their round early and come home...  :(   

-Thursday (Thanksgiving, I may add...) - no vomit, but a house full of sickness, and a cook who is too tired to cook.  We order a smoked turkey from a local BBQ place and then Mimi manages to muster up enough strength to fix a few dishes while I do the rest!  I was NOT gonna let this beat us, NO WAY! We also managed to make it out to the beach for some more play for Grady.  Both kids are back to normal and I am feeling pretty darn good (except for the fact that I keep expecting to throw up or be thrown up on at any time).   

Cole enjoyed exploring some new territory...

 Cole also LOVED "real" food for the first time...

I have a feeling baby-food will be out the window shortly!

 I made a pumpkin pie and from what I hear it was goo-ood!  

-Friday - VOMIT - and our day to leave... Poor Julie got it in the middle of the night and had to miss her half marathon.  Boo!  Sorry Jules!  We LOVE you!  I also will add (because I am on a roll) that a flight home wouldn't be complete without Cole vomiting on me AGAIN!  The fact that we know now he gets sick on the plane for some reason makes it a little better.  

So there you have it.  7 days, and 7/8 people infected.  


All joking aside, we did have such a good time on the two days where there was no sickness.  There are also plenty of things that are much, much worse, so let's keep it in perspective...  It also will be something we laugh about in 20 years... notice I said 20.  It's still pretty painful to think about!  Thank you to my family, who love us anyway and were happy to have us even though they probably wanted to kick us to the curb about half way through!  We love you!!!  Happy VOMITThanksgiving!!!